Right of Reply bill goes to freezer

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of the House of Representatives have thrown the Right of Reply bill (RORB) into the freezer to allow lawmakers to deliberate on more urgent bills.

Speaking to reporters during the weekly Balitaan sa Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City yesterday, Cebu Rep. Pablo Garcia said he doubted that the bill, which media members believe aims to stifle press freedom, would be calendared for plenary debates again.

“The RORB has been overtaken by events,” Garcia said. “Congressmen don’t want to touch it, it’s now frozen.”

The controversy generated by the bill has prompted House leaders to defer plenary debates on it, Garcia said.

The Senate has already approved the bill.

During the same forum, however, Manila Rep. Ben Abante, House committee on public information chairman, said deliberations on the bill that he sponsored have been suspended pending consultations with various media groups.

Once he gets all sides, he would call for plenary debate on the bill, he added.

On the other hand, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the bill’s principal author, said he is open to any compromise that would make the bill more acceptable to various media groups.

“It’s balancing the freedom of the press with the right of the people to defend themselves,” he said.

Pimentel said the bill does not curtail the freedom of speech, of the press and expression because there is no prior censorship.

Mediamen rally in Dagupan

In Dagupan City, Pangasinan journalists from different associations rallied yesterday in front of the City Museum to denounce the Right of Reply bill.

Carrying placards, journalists from the Pangasinan Press and Radio Club led by Allan Sison, Pangasinan Tri-Media Association led by Gabriel Cardinozo, and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas led by Bernie Errasquin took turns in denouncing at the bill that seeks to require news organizations to give equal space or air time to a person who is the subject of a negative story or report.

Radio commentator Roland Hidalgo, who was in a wheelchair, said mediamen are gunned down when their only weapons are their pens and microphones.

“There are many issues involving government officials and politicians from the President down to the local officials that people want to hear about,” he said.

Cardinozo said Fr. Rojan Ramirez had texted him that the Mass which he celebrated yesterday was dedicated to the Right of Reply bill.

“We are with you,” he quoted Ramirez as saying. “We are going to storm the heavens with our prayers.”

Their next stop is Congress, where he will try to bring busloads of Pangasinan journalists to make their voices heard, according to Sison.

Meanwhile, Dagupan City Mayor Alipio Fernandez said he supports the sentiments of the journalists in Pangasinan.

“I do not agree with the Right of Reply as a law because you don’t legislate matters that will either curtail or stifle the freedom of expression,” he said.

“It might do more harm than good.” – With Eva Visperas